Aladdin All it took was one little rub

The Stage Door, Southampton

The Stage Door follows up two popular adult pantos co written by Producer Julianne Watling-McCarthy and Director David Dobson - Jack and his Beanstalk, and Beauty and Her Beast – with this third saucy treat in the great tradition of lewd vulgar ribaldry and burlesque humour that we hope will always find an appreciative audience in Southampton's 'Cultural Quarter', as it does on this occasion, with a crowd that responds to joking local references and relishes imagery so blue that the full details cannot be revealed in this family newspaper (put it this way, the Widow - seasoned dame Malcolm Clarke - isn't Twanky and she ain't running a laundry) and enjoys the panto traditions just as much as younger audiences do, cheers, boos, sings along and joins in enthusiastically, happy in the skilled hands of this talented and engaging cast.

Aston James Harrison as Aladdin is buff, sweet and simple minded though, as he freely admits to the sympathetic audience, slightly lacking in self confidence at first, in the shadow of his brother Fishy Wishy (James Wordsworth), who soon takes them through a lusty chorus, flirting with individual members, while their mother struggles to tug them into the family business.

Hannah Scanlan as the not so innocent Princess and Darcy Kearly, the not so fragrant Genie of Her (the Princess's) Ring, play along very gamely, with Julie Cheung-Inhin as the scheming Albanini and Jason Watling-McCarthy as the Genie of the Lamp.

It's all done, as they say, in the best possible taste, with fine production values, Irisz Heathershaw's charming scenery art, James RH Sayers' choreography, lots of fun, music and laughter, adding up to an uninhibited night of live entertainment that offers a relaxing break from the usual slog of Christmas shopping.

Ham Quentin